Hungary's Orbán Reelected as Fidesz Party Leader
Orbán won 729 of 737 delegate votes and said a one-year mandate will speed Fidesz’s renewal after its first parliamentary loss since 2006.
- Viktor Orbán was re-elected as the leader of the Fidesz party on Saturday, retaining control of the political movement despite losing power as Hungary's Prime Minister in the April 12 elections.
- The vote was an uncontested blowout at the party congress, with Orbán securing 729 out of 737 delegate votes after running entirely without a challenger.
- Orbán admitted that Fidesz completely failed in its election strategy, pointing out that the party severely underestimated voter turnout, alienated younger voters, and was negatively impacted by "foreign-controlled algorithms."
- The party chief vowed to radically restructure Fidesz "from the basement to the attic" by September, aiming to transition it from a rigid governing body into a functional opposition "movement party" ready to challenge Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s new Tisza administration.
- The political shakeup comes as Fidesz's public support continues to crater; a post-election May survey by the Publicus Institute revealed that Fidesz backing has plunged to just 17% , while Magyar's ruling Tisza party has expanded its lead to 55%.
111 Articles
111 Articles
Omaha World-Herald
Party reelects Orban despite loss of power
BUDAPEST — Hungary's main opposition Fidesz party reelected former Prime Minister Viktor Orban as its leader for another year Saturday despite the party's loss of power in an April 12 election to the center-right Tisza party.
Hungary's former head of government Orbán remains head of the right-wing Fidesz party despite defeat.
After the election, Viktor Orbán remains party leader of his Fidesz party. The former head of government plans a repositioning, a stronger EU network and a tough opposition course against Prime Minister Peter Magyar.
Never backing down, says Orbán
“I never back down, I am a kuruc (a Hungarian freedom fighter - Editor's note), and only national politics interest me; neither money, nor European positions, nor international recognition tempt me,” Viktor Orbán, re-elected as party chairman at Fidesz’s congress on Saturday, declared, promising that over the next year he would work to hand Fidesz over to younger generations as an organised, modernised party capable of winning elections.
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